Ban on pre-paid mobile services temporary: Farooq

Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah said on Tuesday that the ban imposed by the Centre on prepaid mobile phone connections in Jammu and Kashmir was "temporary" and would be lifted soon.

"The ban on prepaid cell phone connections in the state is temporary and would be lifted soon," Abdullah told reporters in S.K. Stadium.

Abdullah said the ban was imposed as Centre had apprehensions that the mobile connections were being misused.

"The state government has already taken up the issue with the Centre and very soon the facility of prepaid connections would be restored in the state," Abdullah said.

The ban was imposed in the state from November one in the wake of reports that proper verification is not being done while providing such connections by the service providers/vendors raising security concerns.

The move will affect nearly 38 lakh pre-paid mobile phone subscribers in the state where Airtel has nearly 19 lakh subscribers followed by BSNL with 12 lakh and Aircel seven lakh.

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